Blindfolded Lock picking

[Romstar]

Picking underwater could be a pain but I think bumping underwater would be a nightmare

I don't think that you can bump underwater. At least not in the usual way. There is just too much resistance from the water to get an effective impact.

Oh, and because someone DID ask, even though I told them not to, I was picking the lock to an underwater access gate to a cooling system. Some nimrod actually managed to lose the key. Not just once, but twice even.

Now, the REASON I had to do it underwater is because the outlet tunnel is under 15 feet of water and it lets out into an artificial bay. It would take forever to drain the thing rather than pay through the nose to get some moron (that would be me) to dive in and pick the lock.

A year and a half later they call me back. I kid you NOT, they couldn't find the key to the NEW lock, and finally figured one of their maintenance staff had taken it when he was let go.

After that little discovery, I made some extra money replacing locks around the facility.

So now I hope the person who asked is happy with the explanation.

Romstar

[SEVEN]

Glad you posted that it was killing me not to ask.

[d_goldsmith]

Me too.

[maxxed]

Picking underwater could be a pain but I think bumping underwater would be a nightmare

I don't think that you can bump underwater. At least not in the usual way. There is just too much resistance from the water to get an effective impact.

That was my thought but I didn't want to say impossible cause someone would just have to do it. I also considered that water would probably get above the top pins and create a hydraulic effect. Hey this could be the answer to bump proofing a lock

live underwater lol

BTW I was also curious about the underwater picking thanks for sharing that

[Romstar]

Picking underwater could be a pain but I think bumping underwater would be a nightmare

I don't think that you can bump underwater. At least not in the usual way. There is just too much resistance from the water to get an effective impact.

That was my thought but I didn't want to say impossible cause someone would just have to do it. I also considered that water would probably get above the top pins and create a hydraulic effect. Hey this could be the answer to bump proofing a lock

live underwater lol

BTW I was also curious about the underwater picking thanks for sharing that

Holy crap!

You just solved the bumping problem, and NO I am not joking.

I have to work this one out, but I think you just found the solution, and for next to no real cost.

I promise it does NOT involve living under water.

, why didn't I think of that before.

Thanks,
Romstar

[d_goldsmith]

You inspired me to make this in paint



What do you guys think?

[VashTSPD]

I'm anscious to see what Romstar comes up with, btw, what type of locks did you have to pick underwater?

[maxxed]

I originally was just fooling around, but after I logged off I realized that this is the answer. I probablly wouldn't have put it together if Romstar wouldn't have shared his story.

[maxxed]

You inspired me to make this in paint



What do you guys think?

looking over the diagram I think that the spring and fluid could be in the same chamber and the pin could have an o-ring type of a seal

[xxgonzoxx]

Well from blindfolded lock picking to a possible solution for bumping....too bad the topic can't be changed.

[Romstar]

The solution is a gel spring.

Hydro-gel in an elastopolymer skin. As long as a typical spring, but smaller in diameter than the pin.

The gel spring goes over the driver the same as a standard spring.

This works because the polymer casing allows the gel to compress in the bible and the smaller diameter means that the gel has a place to compress into.

When a key is inserted the gel compresses, just like a normal spring. The lock functions normally, and when the key is removed, the coating restores the size and shape of the gel spring pushing the driver and key pin back to their at rest positions.

Now, the interesting thing here is that if a bump key is used, the dynamics of the gel are such that the pins don't jump. There is too much inertia to overcome in the gel and the skin. It simply won't react as quickly as a metal spring.

Basicaly is wobbles around in the bible, and the pins stay down. If anyone's seen the movie "Flubber", this is basically what we have created.

The gel spring can't get jammed because of its length, but also because it is smaller in diameter it will move up and down as the gel compresses from an inserted key.

I am going to see if my old chemistry skills will let me make anything to test this theory.

Gel in a bag. This should be fun.

Romstar

P.S. Rubber seals won't work because eventually they will go up, but not come back down. Or they will just plain leak.

[Romstar]

By the way, the other cure to bumping has been around for decades. The Emhart interlocking pin system.

Driven off the markey by Medeco for an alleged patent infringement. In my opinion, utter crap. The technique was different. Only the pins were at all similar, and the locking mechanism was completely different as it did not use a side bar.

Oh well.

I still have to make a pin and cup driver to see how that reacts. It may be an even easier solution than the gel.

Romstar

[Stray]

But when picking a lock under water, wouldn't there be more of a vacuum formed in the top pins than the bottom since they are more closed off?

point i'm getting at is: If you were to push the pins right up then release them would there be a short period of time whilst the water is rushing into the void where the top pins were , that the top pins and bottom pins arn't in contact? thus making a nice sheer line?

or would the gaps be too big for the vacuum to counter act the springs force?

[Bud Wiser]

Well when your Russian every one expects you to be good at chess, so I had to be good at chess. I played blind fold, speed, and even several games simultaneously, my record was 7 players (I lost 3). Then computers came and I played them too.

Not trying to brag but I've carried this over to my lock picking hobby. I am happy to say I can pick blind folded, with one hand, and even with ear plugs.

I can even pick with out locks too! This is similar to playing chess with out a board or pieces where the players are left to keep every thing moving in their minds. I can do that too! And have even applied it to locks!
I can successfully pick a abloy, mul-t-lock in 5 seconds in my mind with out even holding the lock or pick. Incredible no?

This has not stopped me from really pushing it. I've managed to pick while driving my car, and one other thing that really drove my wife nuts that I am not at liberty to discuss here. I can only say it was challenging for me to keep my concentration level UP.

There are only 2 things I will not try to do while picking, be under water and sky diving.

Every thing else, NP.

[maxxed]

Interesting theory Romstar I look forward to reading about your progress. The solution has to be simple to implement, I got carried away with designing a series of cross flow chambers to divert fluid ffrom one chamber to another. This , I soon realized, could work but would be too impractical to implement.